A communications system includes call devices that are capable of communicating over a packet-based data network. The packet-based data network may be according to an Internet Protocol (IP), for example. The call devices are capable of performing call communications, such as according to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or an H.323 Recommendation. Each of the call devices includes a user interface that is customizable to one or multiple configurations depending on which user is using the call device. User identification information is communicated from the call device to a proxy or server that has access to a database. The identification information is used to locate configuration information associated with the user. The corresponding user configuration information is then retrieved from the database and communicated back to the call device to configure the call device user interface.